Category: Salvation

God’s Desire – All Saved and Know the Truth

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Obedience, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, Salvation, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Saturday, 2023-04-22
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Timothy 2:1-4
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: 1 So, first and foremost, I urge God’s people to pray. They should make their requests, petitions, and thanksgivings on behalf of all humanity. 2 Teach them to pray for kings (or anyone in high places for that matter) so that we can lead quiet, peaceful lives—reverent, godly, and holy— 3 all of which is good and acceptable before the eyes of God our Savior 4 who desires for everyone to be saved and know the truth.

OBSERVATION: I wonder if our churches will look differently, and there will be fewer splits or closures, if we placed our focus on Paul’s instruction to Timothy. If our focus was on ‘Desiring that everyone be saved and know the truth’, don’t you see where many things would be changed in our current-day churches? I believe we can all agree that our churches exist for the same reason Paul gave in these instructions to Timothy, but have we succeeded in following the teaching God ordained through Paul in our Scripture today? Let’s examine this in more detail.

APPLICATION: The church of Jesus Christ thinks big today, as they try to reach a much larger area of the world population than just those in our local communities. I realize this is good when trying to be obedient to Matthew 29:19 where Jesus taught us to go and preach the Gospel to all nations. But after being reminded today in our Scripture of the things that God is passionate about, it may be best if we filter all our personal plans, and insist that the goals of our respective churches will also be tested through the lens of what God desires for His church. For example, there may be a proposal from a prominent couple of your church to have a get together at their home once monthly in the name of the church. The church leaders should analyze whether this (and all plans) will lead the unsaved to the Lord, or will the activity be an avenue for believers to learn more about the love of Jesus. That may seem a very trivial example, but dear friends, many times you will find things going on at church, or in the name of the church, that’s nothing more than an avenue to share gossip between groups of similarly minded people who try to hide under the disguise of the church. Unfortunately, for most churches, I believe that their priority has become maximizing the size of their congregation in order to see their debt paid off. Altar calls, visitation, phone calls and just genuine follow-up has become a past event that has outlived its usefulness in current day churches. Yes, filling our churches with people will expose more people to the preaching of the Word, but how do you suppose your church does in challenging attendees to make a 180 degree turn in the way they act and speak to others throughout the rest of the week, or challenge each one to strive for a heart like Jesus and desire, above all else, to see every family member and everyone in your circle of friends saved? Are you committed to daily Bible Study and strive to attend a group Bible Study so that you would be challenged in, and well-versed in the Word of God? Please decide to never invite a friend to Bible Study if you are not committed to being there whenever that person arrives. Unfortunately, the world is out to soften and even defraud the name and teachings of Jesus Christ, so in an effort to help those closest to you to know the truth of the Gospel and its main character – Jesus Christ, it will be necessary for you to show how important this is to you, through your example. Also, I implore you to take note of the very first thing that Paul taught on in the chapter – prayer. With less than 5% of church congregations finding it unimportant to take time out for daily prayer with their Father in heaven, or attend corporate prayer meetings, is there any wonder why Paul found it necessary to encourage those to whom he preached, to give priority to intercessory prayer with their Master? But in spite of Paul, Timothy, and our own pastor’s preaching and teaching, yet this remains a weak point in our churches today. Why? Is prayer important enough to be a priority to you? Without this important practice in your life, can you truly say that either of Jesus’ other two practices – a). A desire to see friends and loved ones saved; and b). A desire to see them learn more of the things God demands of them; are important to you?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: I love when we are not just given instruction in God’s Word, but how we also learn why His teaching is important. Notice in today’s Scripture where we are told: ‘so that we can lead quiet, peaceful lives—reverent, godly, and holy‘! Imagine how our families and our cities will improve if God’s people led in these characteristics!

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I pray that we will learn to live in full obedience to Your Word, Your teachings, Your example and Your desire for us. May the world be a better place because of You, and Your precious love for Your children who will follow Your teachings and Your example. May each reader and/or listener commit to a deeper personal relationship with you, so that the world will see Jesus in us and not our mistakes and failures that make us no better than they are. Please give reason for others to see enough of Jesus in us, that they will desire a real and personal relationship with You. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Be Ready and Be Rewarded

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Readiness, Ready, Ready to Go, Recognize God, Rewards, Salvation, State of Readiness, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Monday, 2023-03-27
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 12:37-40
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 37 The servants who are ready and waiting for his return will be rewarded. I tell you the truth, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! 38 He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn. But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready. 39 “Understand this: If a homeowner knew exactly when a burglar was coming, he would not permit his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.”

OBSERVATION: I know of some dads who will leave without you, if you are not ready when he comes to pick you up! Many employers will give you only limited chances if you report to work late. Yet, throughout the Word of God, we are not only told about the return of Christ, but we are warned that He will reject those who have not prepared themselves for heaven. A glorious reward, but will you be blessed with this awesome gift from God?

APPLICATION: Having sold a few personal items via Social Media, I can appreciate the point of being ready and being on the lookout for a buyer when they come to pick up their purchased item! My father-in-law was one who would have his bags packed, and out near the driveway well in advance of the time his ride promised to pick him up! My wife and I felt this was funny, but in meditating on the Scripture at hand this morning, I was reminded that Jesus doesn’t want us to wait until His return to hang up our earthly desires and our careless regard for the promised return of Jesus to collect His saints. Do you suppose that this may be due to stories we have heard about evangelists naming a date or timeframe for the return of Christ, only for us to arrive at that date and not see Him? Remember, the Bible tells us that not even Jesus knows the date of His return, only the Father. When it is reported that a hurricane is headed our way, some will immediately purchase material to protect the windows in their homes, but some will procrastinate by assuming their own inclination that the hurricane will hit places all around them, but they will personally dodge the bullet. In these two scenarios, whose home will be best protected from hurricane force winds? In the Bible, Old Testament prophets foretold it, and in the New Testament we can read about the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this Scripture we are reviewing today, and in many other references we are told that Jesus, our Master and Lord, will return to earth to take His bride – the church, home to glory to be with the Lord forever. That’s the saved on earth – the believers in Jesus Christ, we are the church. When will Christ return? According to the Bible, no man knows the day or the hour. Jesus said that only His Father knows the day He will send His Son to collect His bride. The Bible is just as assuring about what will happen with those who have not invited Jesus to be Lord and Master of their life. Unfortunately, they will also receive their just sentence – a one-way trip to Hell where Satan and his demons will punish them with fire and damnation for all eternity. In today’s Scripture, Jesus likens this time of decision to a master and slave scenario. If the slave is ready when their master returns to get them, they will be rewarded. The greatest reward is in knowing your state of readiness. This is not something that anyone else can arrange for you or maintain for you. This is a personal decision you make with Jesus and only you know how honest you were with that commitment or how serious you take the commitment you made to Jesus. To be ready for the return of Jesus, You must have invited Him to be Lord of your life at the time that he returns. If He came today, are you sure of your eternal fate? If not, please call on Jesus today. Because this is a personal decision, you don’t need to wait for the next church service, as Jesus might return before that. Do it now, my friends.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Just as we love to use our credit card with ‘rewards’, so we should be excited to know that we are ready for the return of Jesus Christ and the rewards He has in store for us. Ready, or not, Jesus will return only once to take those who know Him personally into the glories of heaven. For those who miss that, the rewards are nowhere as pleasant, for their master, Satan, is waiting for them in Hell. I’m ready if Jesus should come today, are you?

PRAYER: Oh dear Lord, have mercy on those who try to defy all odds and wait for the last minute to decide on a course of action, whether it be an approaching storm, or Your unannounced return to take Your children home to heaven. Please soften their hearts and once again convince them of their sin, Lord. May all of my readers, listeners and all of our family and friends be ready to meet You if You choose to come today. We all know what needs to be done, but now I pray that You will give them the strength and boldness to believe in and trust You as their personal Savior. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Ready or Not, Jesus is Coming

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Ready to Go, Recognize God, Salvation, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Saturday, 2023-03-04
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Thessalonians 5:2-3
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape.

OBSERVATION: I remember the words from a scary amusement park ride, that told riders to ensure their safety and intent, as there is no turning back now! ‘No escape’ – the same words used in today’s Scripture about the return of Christ to collect His church (believers in Jesus Christ). Many of us tend to be very organized and make special provisions to ensure we are ready (prepared) and on time for an event. Ready or not, Paul reminds us that there will be no turning back, reassessing, redoing, or making quick changes, when the trumpet of God sounds. There will be no escape. Your eternal destiny is sealed at that point. What will your outcome be?

APPLICATION: For those who read my ‘Observation’ you may be saying that this is just another religious scare tactic. But is that what you say to the neighbor who comes over and, in a sense of urgency and/or panic, tells you that there’s a fire at the back of your house? Do you curse at the weatherman when he warns you of a storm that is likely to cause havoc in your day tomorrow? So let me encourage you to take this word from Paul as a warning from the God who created you. Remember, He’s the One who hung on a cruel cross at Calvary out of His perfect love for you, and He prepared a way to enable you to become righteous in the sight of God – washed white as snow, when you seek His forgiveness and accept Him as Lord of your life. Be reminded that there is absolutely no amount of good you can do, or money you can give away, that will earn you the right into heaven. It is only through accepting the free gift of eternal life through knowing Jesus as your Savior and Lord. So, with that background information before you, let’s address the warning given to the church at Thessalonica by Paul. He gave two excellent illustrations to the church. Just as you wouldn’t dare wait until a specific night to secure your back door, or lock your vehicles because you know that a robber is coming that night, so it is with making your election secure, so that your destiny is grounded and secure, for you also don’t know the day or the hour that Jesus will return to take His bride – the church – you and I. Be sure to also look closely at the analogy about labor pains and how the birth of a baby will happen when least expected. Many mothers will prepare for that unexpected moment right at the very moment they learn they are pregnant. Doctors will tell couples an approximate date the baby should come. Husbands will leave home for work, thinking it will be an ordinary day at work – until they receive a panic call from their wife that ‘it’s time to get to the hospital!’ Friends, just as the dad knew that they would have a baby, so we also know that Jesus will return. Just as the dad declined a trip to a long-distance destination so he could be close enough when the call came to him, so we are to be ready for Christ’s return. Believers accepted this fact as one of the most important parts of their decision to accept Jesus as Lord. Unbelievers are reckless with this decision, just like the father who travels away from home convinced that his child will not come for a few days. He has deep regrets when he realizes that he was mistaken, but he can’t turn back the hands of time so he could do things differently. So it is with the unbeliever who delays the decision to accept Jesus as Lord. No matter the good intentions, and no matter how you had a place and time already planned to accept Jesus, He will return based on a decision by God alone, and not anyone’s good intentions or their timetable. Please, dear reader or listener, don’t be sorry for not making your decision to accept Jesus when you are first called by Him. Called? Yes, when you first realized that Jesus was real and that He loves you like no one else does. How do I know? Because children of the world who are led by Satan will not have thoughts of heaven, or Jesus, or eternal life. It is only when Jesus tugs at your heart that your mind will be turned from the things of this world and towards your heavenly Father. The Bible says that God will only call for so long, then He will give you up to your own choices. Death will come to all, no escape. Your eternal destination will depend on what you did with Jesus. Make it count dear friend, make that vital decision today to accept Jesus as Lord.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: You can avoid ever being told ‘go away from me, for I never knew you’. Listen to Jesus today and be ready for His return which could be at any moment.

PRAYER: You loved us enough to provide the mean of salvation for us; to call us to Yourself and away from the wickedness of this world; and to correct us as necessary even while still here on earth. We really have no excuse to ever be threatened with the words ‘there’s no turning back now’, for as Your child, our aim is to eventually be together with You and the Father, in the glories of heaven. Many doubt the weatherman, but destructive storms come. Many gamble on the day of arrival for their child, but the baby comes when the time is right. Similarly, many have chosen to gamble on Your return date to take Your church home to glory, but they have placed themselves into a wedge where there is no escape. Please Lord, touch the heart of each one who takes the time to read this devotional today. May they clearly see the truth of Your Word and accept the free gift of Salvation only available through accepting You as Lord of their life. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Our Comfort, Our Hope, Our Encouragement!

On By Ed AlgreenIn A Lamp unto My Path, Adoration, Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Awesome God, Beyond Description, Blessing, Celebrate God, Comfort, encouragement, Hope, Needs, Praise, Praise-worthy, Recognize God, Salvation, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED: Tuesday, 2023-02-28
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
TRANSLATION: The Voice (VOICE)

BIBLE TEXT: 13 Brothers and sisters, we want you to be fully informed about those who have fallen asleep in death so that you will not be overwhelmed with grief like those who live outside of the true hope. 14 Here’s what we believe: since Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, God will bring with Jesus all who have died through Him. 15 For we can say all this to you confidently because it is the word of the Lord: we who are still alive and left behind when the Lord comes will not precede those who have fallen asleep in death. 16 On that day, with a command that thunders into the world, with a voice of a chief heavenly messenger, and with a blast of God’s trumpet, the Lord Himself will descend from heaven; and all those who died in the Anointed One, our Liberating King, will rise from the dead first. 17 Then we who are alive and left behind will be snatched up together with them into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. This is how we, the resurrected and the living, will be with Him forever. 18 So comfort one another with this hope, and encourage one another with these words.

OBSERVATION: When others are hurting, we may tend to stay clear of them, because we are afraid that we won’t have the words to encourage them. However, God’s Word is not just for correction and direction, but we will find in today’s Scripture that it also offers us words to be encouraged by, or to help those who have lost loved ones who knew Jesus as Lord.

APPLICATION: My wife had completed a medical procedure that caused her to use a wheelchair while shopping. We found it interesting how some friends who saw her in the wheelchair chose to walk down a different isle or try in some way to avoid having to encounter my wife or ask her about her temporary disability! We believe they were at a loss for words. Visitations and/or funerals are no different, for we become dumbfounded for the right words to encourage the grieving relatives left behind. Unfortunately, this is very challenging if the loved one died without ever accepting the sacrifice Jesus made at Calvary for the forgiveness of their sin. For the Bible is clear on their eternal destiny, where they chose to remain unsaved and, instead lived, and died, in a way that only Satan would approve of. Friends, I believe if we face family or friends who are suffering through such a loss, we might become even more determined than ever to urgently share the love of Jesus with those we know and love. As believers in Jesus Christ, it is imperative that we follow the practice and teaching of our Master. One of those principles is that we do not lie. So, while we must be sympathetic toward the family the loved one, we should never confuse them into thinking that their lost loved one is now in heaven. Of course, that’s what they want to hear, but we know, based on the Word of God, that if God honored their request to have nothing to do with them on earth, He will be sure to keep that commitment in death also. Instead, we might therefore take the opportunity of sharing the encouraging news that Paul highlights in today’s Scripture, with hopes of helping the living relatives make a better choice for their eternal destiny. It is always sad to lose one that we care about – yes, even one whose destiny is secure, and their eternal destiny is one of peace and comfort. safe in the arms of Jesus. Praise God, Paul shared a message of hope for the surviving family of one who has passed on from this world. For those of us who know Jesus as Lord and Savior, let’s be comforted in the hope, and encourage those who care about us, that greater is one day in His courts than a million elsewhere! Let’s plead with them to also leave us with the same assurance about themselves.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Let us comfort one another with the hope that our eternity is secured, and our destiny is set to be in heaven with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit when our time on earth is finished! What a peace is afforded to us, and our loved ones in knowing this fact.

PRAYER: What an awesome God we serve! You not only sent Your Son to satisfy the sin of those who seek You as Lord of their life, but You also showed us through Your servant Paul, that our friends and relatives can now rejoice in knowing our eternal destination, instead of sorrowing in our loss here on earth. Lord Jesus, this not only brings peace to us, and our relatives, but also drives us to wanting our family to also seek Jesus as Lord and experience that same peace. Please Lord, soften the hearts of those who continue to be stubborn and disobedient to Your call on their life. Only You can draw them to Yourself. Please be patient with them and once again today, show them the way to eternal life. We are forever grateful for what You did for us, now please give us peace about those who are still here on earth and have the opportunity to open their hearts to You, and we thank You in advance for what You could do! AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Are You Registered Yet?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Assurance, Believe, Heaven, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Salvation, Saved, Savior, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2023-02-20
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 10:17-20
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 17 When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, “Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!”
18 “Yes,” he told them, “I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning! 19 Look, I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you. 20 But don’t rejoice because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered in heaven.”

APPLICATION: Often we only need to be associated in a group who is experiencing success in some area of their ministry, for us to start bragging about what God is doing in and through our church, or group. Praise the Lord that you can do that, and I pray that there will be many opportunities to experience success in your work, and then rejoice in the celebration of that success. The 70 disciples were given authority by Jesus to heal the sick, tell them about Jesus and cast out demons. These guys returned in such rare form! They bragged to Jesus about how they saw demons obey their commands when they used His name to cast them out. You can only imagine the excitement! Why, we do the same thing when we see people saved and their lives totally transformed. We are thankful to God when we see people leave their worldly offerings of ball games, beach parties, family times around the television, and so on, so they could be in church worshipping together with us. We know that coming to God’s house to worship together and hear a message from God, will speak truth intro their lives and could create an environment where Satan is not welcomed, so we rejoice and celebrate in God being at work. BUT, do you really get the jest of what Jesus told His disciples? In this world, there will be many reasons to rejoice, to celebrate, or even thank God for moving in the ministries of our church! But what what do you suppose will happen in our churches if our people would remind themselves of their eternal destination as often as they meet? Just talking about heaven should excite us beyond words, and cause us to worship, adore and praise the Lord Jesus for making this all possible to us. Don’t you know that when God’s children truly act like children of the King, and they respond to the reminder of whose they are and where they are going, this is bound to excite those worshipping together with us, and they will want to make sure that their names are registered in heaven and they have the assurance of eternity with our Creator, God Almighty, and His precious Son? The challenging part of corporate worship is that almost everyone will sing, or raise their hands in worship, while some may even sing in a choir, receive the offering or greet visitors. This might help everyone subscribe to a thought that they are all in the same boat and everyone is headed to heaven. But God’s Word declares that the latter only occurs when one has accepted Jesus as Lord of their life and repented of their sin. To repent means that you ask for the help of God to turn away from your sin, so that you might, instead, follow a totally opposite direction in life – one that is obedient to God, and following in His will for your life, as detailed in the Word of God. Friends, just as Jesus told His disciples who had been out ministering in His name, there is nothing more important than to know that your name is written in the book of heaven. If you are unsure, or if you have reason to doubt your assurance of this, please get with a local, Bible teaching Pastor, or drop a note back to me so I could help you with this most important question.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: For those who have their name registered in Heaven, Jesus is ready to welcome you home when that time comes! Glory to God in the highest!

PRAYER: I find it fascinating that even after sending out the 70 to minister and heal in Your name, that You still saw the importance of them knowing without a shadow of doubt that their name is written, or registered in heaven. It is so easy for us to feel such a part of a group, that we may convince ourselves that we have the same privileges as the overall group has. Thankfully, I am reminded by Your words today, Lord, that a group setting will not save me. It’s only through accepting the new birth that is offered through Jesus Christ alone that I am saved, my name registered in the book of heaven, and I am on my way to spending eternity with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Please Lord, use this simple reminder from You, and the simple explanation of this devotional to open the eyes of those blinded by Satan, pride and the greed of this world. Please show them the way, the truth, and the glories of heaven that can be theirs if they would simply accept You as Lord and Savior. Give each reader and/or listener new reasons to truly worship and adore You today! AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

What Trophy Will You Present To God

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Evangelism, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Salvation, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Monday, 2023-02-13
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12; 19-20;
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: 11 We talked to you as a father to his own children—don’t you remember? – pleading with you, encouraging you and even demanding 12 that your daily lives should not embarrass God but bring joy to him who invited you into his Kingdom to share his glory.
19 For what is it we live for, that gives us hope and joy and is our proud reward and crown? It is you! Yes, you will bring us much joy as we stand together before our Lord Jesus Christ when he comes back again. 20 For you are our trophy and joy.

APPLICATION: I have a relative that owns and operates a hunting preserve. While he offers many different hunts, there are a few that add the description, and elite title of ‘Trophy’. Many hunters will stretch to afford a ‘Trophy Hunt’. The animal might be the biggest, or the prettiest or in some way the one considered the most prized by the owner. The Bible refers to man as God’s prized possession. So when we, who are called by His name, see His prized possession straying away from Him, or showing little interest in heaven as their eternal home, don’t you know that God admires the times that we deliberately make an effort to help that one turn from their wickedness and turn to God? That seemed to have been Paul’s intent in today’s Scripture. It seems like Paul’s act of service, his ministry, was so important, and was so dear to his heart, that he considered it a ‘trophy’ to go after, win, and present it to His Master! I believe it was the same prayers, blood, sweat and tears that led to Paul’s imprisonment. It was like Paul poured his very heart into his effort to minister for our Lord. I wonder how many times in our church life have we been so committed to the work of the Lord, that we can honestly tell God that we have poured out our heart through our love, our prayers, our compassion and our deeds for the folk we were ministering to? Some might respond, but I didn’t minister, I just taught Sunday School, or I just helped in the youth group, or I just worked in the kitchen at church. Unfortunately, that may be the problem. If we teach Sunday School so that we can share the love and teachings of Jesus Christ, and not just to fill a position and read a lesson plan, then we subject our hearts to the work of Jesus in and through us. It’s called ‘ministry’. If we work in the kitchen, it’s not because we are unqualified to do anything else, but we want to be the hands and feet of Jesus through every cup of coffee we serve or every piece of bread that we place on a plate. I believe this has caused me to think about ‘what might be something that, throught my years of ministry work, I might kneel at Jesus’ feet and present to Him in token form, as the ‘token’ or grand prize of my ministry! How about you my friend? Are you, or have you been, performing a task that no one else would accept at church, or are you expending your whole heart into facilitating the love of Jesus through you? I don’t believe we have to wait. Why not join me in placing our ‘Token’ at the feet of Jesus today? Yes, there may still be another one coming before God calls you home, but what is your greatest token to date?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: It is so awesome to imagine that God would use simple old us to share His love and His ministry with others who need a Savior! It’s because of His mercy and His amazing love that we ourselves are more than conquerors, and able to extend ourselves to be used by Him in blessing others!

PRAYER: Lord, I admit that only You can save a soul that’s destined for Hell. Thank You Lord for calling me to Your throne of grace, and thank You for Your amazing grace. Lord, as You work through Your Holy Spirit to produce a great work within me and give me the urgency to share my story with others, I pray that You will open their hearts and cause them to also surrender to Your call. Have the mind to share Jesus with others is such an honor, yet You have given me the desire to see folk saved and avoid the pit of Hell at all cost. Please continue to do a good work in me, and in the lives of my readers and listeners so that we might be warriors that will go the extra mile in order to introduce someone to Jesus. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Workers Needed

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Discipline, Greatest Need, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Recognize Needs, Salvation, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Sunday, 2023-01-29
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 1 Chronicles 16:39; 41;
TRANSLATION: New Living Translation (NLT)

BIBLE TEXT: 39 Meanwhile, David stationed Zadok the priest and his fellow priests at the Tabernacle of the Lord at the place of worship in Gibeon, where they continued to minister before the Lord. 
41 David also appointed Heman, Jeduthun, and the others chosen by name to give thanks to the Lord, for “his faithful love endures forever.” 

APPLICATION: To give you a little insight into what I saw as I read this Scripture, imagine a new pastor beginning at your church, and in his first meeting with the leadership, he requests a fairly large number of workers to see that the ministry he feels led of God to carry out, is effective. He envisions lots of young families to attend, so there will be a need for adequate childcare; children’s ministry; married couple’s ministry; mom’s day out ministry; then there’s discipleship offered by older men to young men, and the same for the women; ministry to the elderly and shut-ins; prayer and evangelism workers who will work with church attendees who respond to the Gospel message; at least a 12-hour presence in the sanctuary ever day of the week to pray with folk that may walk in; outreach to the lost in the community; visitation and prayer with the hospitalized; and more – as God directs. What do you suppose this leadership team will do with this pastor? Or do you suppose this will acknowledge his vision and do everything they could for this pastor and his vision? I bet you may never have thought of all these ministries taking place in your church, especially since you only tend to attend the Sunday morning service! I find it interesting to stop and consider the needs of a church when I attend. Last Sunday, my wife and I attended Sunday School. It occurred 1 hour before the regular morning worship service. I was well aware that visitors were not expected. There was no one to greet us, even though we saw several attending to the various doors when it was about for the Worship Service to begin. There were no signs pointing visitors to a class, and some members that we asked wasn’t even sure where they should send us. I did something similar another time, when I attended the Wednesday night prayer and bible study of a different church. I wasn’t sure which door to enter, and once inside, I could not figure out where the adults were meeting. No one thought to welcome me, nor ask why I was there. Finally, after some questioning, one lady spoke up and offered to take me to the mixed group that she was attending. Now, in spite of all said, I was so impressed with the teaching that night that I made that my new church home. But what if your church wanted to introduce one or more ministries, and they wanted each ministry to have the same, or similar, workers as available on Sunday morning throughout their sanctuary? I believe each of you will agree that we shouldn’t expect anything less, right? After all, each time we meet we expect God to move. And because of this, we want the unsaved to attend. And we don’t want a recurrence of what I experienced at the midweek service or at Sunday School. Now we might be tempted to say that David had a lot more folk available to him to man the Tabernacle, but I really think that we should look inward and see what we could do to fill the gaps, instead of looking for ways to complain of the inadequacies and gaps at our church. There’s a saying that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’. I like that, but I also feel like it takes all of us to do our part in making our church a welcoming place, and one that truly does what it’s mission should be all about – disciplining (teaching and growing) the saved; evangelizing (a call to salvation in Jesus Christ) the unsaved attendees; and outreach to members of our community. I believe that God would say that it takes the church ‘village’ to accomplish this mission, not just the Pastor or his elders and/or deacons. Also, consider stragglers walking along our streets who suddenly feel the need to meet with Jesus, or a call on their life for salvation. Will they find help at your church? Almost all of our churches are barred up, due to crime, while members sit at home watching television or joining in on the community gossip channel! How will they find Jesus if we neglect doing our part to teach and show them the Jesus that lives inside of us?

BLESSING(S) NOTED: God’s faithful love endures forever!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord Jesus for blessing me with a good church home, awesome fellow believers and teachers, and a heart that wants to learn more and more about you and Your Kingdom. I’m still far from perfect, so I really need Your touch on my life and a renewed desire to do everything I can for the good of Your Kingdom. Please speak to my readers and listeners, and help us all to stop assigning visitation, evangelism, outreach, welcoming and everything else to our Pastor. I believe Your Word is clear that the ‘church’ must be the ‘church’ – Your arm of ministry to touch the hearts of the lost in our community. People we know, love, and come across every day, need the Lord – the same Lord that we boast of having inside of us. Teach us Lord to willingly share Your love and ministry with others who also need You. David showed us that for ministry to take place, he had to assign various aspects of it to his people. Help us Lord to share the various aspects of ministry today with all who would join hands with us in sharing Your love with others. Have Your will and way in Your church, and in the lives of all who call You Savior and Lord. The lost needs what we have, please teach us to be generous in sharing and giving Your love to them. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Tell Everyone What God Has Done For You

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Salvation, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Sunday, 2023-01-22
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 8:37-39
TRANSLATION: New International Version (NIV)

BIBLE TEXT: 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.

APPLICATION: Conversations with a friend at work, or the hairdresser, or a new friend sitting next to you in a stadium, are all varied and open discussion about almost any subject. Telling everyone about a predicted storm coming your way, or about a recent robbery, or the argument between your neighbors – they all seem easy to talk about in mixed and unknown company. However, we tend to crawl back into our corner rather, than tell anyone about the awesome touch of God on our lives during last week’s church service. We are often ready and willing to share the gory details about an upcoming surgery but wouldn’t dare tell anyone about how our surgery was cancelled because ‘Doctor’ Jesus responded to our cry for healing. Why do you suppose this happens? Why do you permit it to happen? Is it not obvious that two of the most evangelistic sermons every preached were: 1). When this healed man went and told his whole township about what Jesus had done in his life? and 2). When the woman at the well left the encounter with Jesus and went on to share her experience with her whole town? If you rushed into town and saved everyone from disaster by telling them about a storm you just saw approaching the town, you would probably be interviewed by many television stations as they lauded you as a hero to the town. Yet there is a storm of unknown capacity on its way, the one that involves the end of life here on earth, and the transition of every soul to eternity. Many will face the doom of eternity in Hell, because they have not considered and accepted Jesus as Lord of their life. Would you rather stand idly by and watch them walk into eternity with Satan and his demons, or would you choose to share with them the Good News of Jesus Christ who saved you from your sin? In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus gives us the same orders that He gave to the woman at the well, and to the healed demon-possessed man – Go and tell the town what Jesus has done for you. Are you willing to stand firm today and declare that nothing will stop you from following in the footsteps of the two individuals mentioned in this devotional? If not, why not? If you must say no, because you have nothing to share, may I introduce you to the man who saved the woman and man we spoke of in this devotional today? I don’t believe that God called us to memorize Scripture, although that is extremely helpful; Nor to preach the Gospel, as God gave that gift to certain ones, and you may not be one of them. But I am convinced that God wants you to tell your story. How, when, and under what circumstances did you meet Jesus? What has He done for you in response to your prayers, through His Word, and in various circumstances of life? Just share it my friend! Remember, you can’t save anyone, but do as God instructed and enthusiastically watch as God saves them!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: I don’t believe the man and woman I spoke of in my application needed any encouragement or support to tell their joyous story. God has healed our brokenness and sin, and He gave us new life in and through the name of Jesus! Of course we have a story to tell that can change the hearts of the unsaved! Go now into all the world and share your story with the lost and unsaved.

PRAYER: Yes Lord, we do have a story to tell. You were merciful, You accepted my plea for salvation and You set my feet on a new road to heaven where I will spend eternity with You and the Father. Please immerse Yourself within me so that I might have the boldness and the power to tell my story, so that others may be encouraged and drawn to You. People still need the Lord. How dare we say that we are timid, or ashamed, or don’t have the words to say. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is all we need, so open our heart’s and continue to give us a voice to share the same love that You showed to us in saving our soul. Help me to sing it loud ‘Jesus is all the world to me‘ and ‘Down at the cross‘ – glory to Your name! AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Who’s NOT Worthy Of Jesus?

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Forgiveness, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Salvation, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2023-01-10
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Luke 7:36-39
TRANSLATION: The Passion Translation (TPT)

BIBLE TEXT: 36 … Simeon, a Jewish religious leader, asked Jesus to his home for dinner. Jesus accepted the invitation. When he went to Simeon’s home, he took his place at the table.
37 In the neighborhood there was an immoral woman of the streets, known to all to be a prostitute. When she heard that Jesus was at Simeon’s house, she took an exquisite flask made from alabaster, filled it with the most expensive perfume, went right into the home of the Jewish religious leader, and in front of all the guests, she knelt at the feet of Jesus. 38 Broken and weeping, she covered his feet with the tears that fell from her face. She kept crying and drying his feet with her long hair. Over and over, she kissed Jesus’ feet. Then, as an act of worship, she opened her flask and anointed his feet with her costly perfume.
39 When Simeon saw what was happening, he thought, “This man can’t be a true prophet. If he were really a prophet, he would know what kind of sinful woman is touching him.”

APPLICATION: While this is a very interesting story about a Jewish leader, a harlot, and about Jesus breaking the norm to eat at the home of a man who despised Him, yet there are some very challenging thoughts that might sober us in the way we think, especially when we think that it’s just our inner person involved. There are several places in the Bible where we are told that Jesus not only hears the words we speak, but He also knows our thoughts. Click on the Scripture reference above and you will be presented with the full chapter in Luke where today’s verses derived from. In the verses following my excerpt, you will be touched by the way Jesus dealt with the thoughts of Simeon mentioned in verse 39. Allow this to challenge you into the thoughts that come across your mind when a person walks down the isle of your church on a Sunday morning who: Is dressed differently to you and those around you; Just got out of prison; Is well known in the community for the shady work that they do; or is known from recent press reports to be of questionable character. Will you be the first one to walk alongside that individual to the altar where you could lead them to Christ? Will you be the one to warn the pastor about the risky character of this new church attendee? Will YOUR Jesus love, accept and save such a shady person, or will they have to clean up their act first? Also, in the verses that follow, you will find that Jesus was forced to tell Simeon about his shortcomings at this luncheon, and how this lady of questionable character filled all the gaps that he (Simeon) missed out on. Friends, the lesson that I believe God wants us to receive loud and clear, is that there is so much that we have to clean up in our own lives, how dare we overlook the plank in our own eye, to point out the splinter in another’s eye. Jesus is the only perfect One that walked this earth, and as long as we remain on earth, we will always be plagued by the sin that surrounds us every day. Let’s be diligent about seeking God’s forgiveness of the sin that impacts us each day, while we encourage others that we come into contact with, to do the same. As a beggar searching out the face of God for forgiveness, let us be diligent about sharing the blessings we receive with other beggars also looking for the same. God knows the condition of each heart, and He is capable of cleansing and forgiving the sin of the best man we know on earth, at the same time that Jesus hears the cry for forgiveness from a harlot or an axe murderer two doors down from us. Think of the mercies of God to a sinner like yourself, then it will be much easier to understand why He forgives and accepts the sinners we struggle to love and accept. Jesus died for us all – sinners unworthy of love and praise from anyone, yet they are precious in the eyes of Jesus who will forgive all sinners requesting mercy and forgiveness.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Jesus is no respecter of persons. Every man, woman and child living on earth is affected by the sin Satan brings to mankind. Therefore, a king and a harlot may be at the throne of grace at the same time seeking forgiveness. All are precious in His sight, for we are all His creation – His children! If all are accepted by Jesus, then we must learn to accept each other.

PRAYER: As a sinner saved by Your grace, oh Lord, please help me to be loving and accepting of others, especially those who are still seeking a Savior. Slaves may not even be accepted at their master’s table, but because our Master and Lord created everyone – even slaves, we all are welcomed at His throne, if we have humbled ourselves and invited Jesus to be Lord of our lives. Thank You Lord Jesus for accepting even us, sinners undeserving of a kingly crown. May the King of all kings forgive us of our sin and accept us as saints who will walk the streets of gold and dine with the Master Himself. Please impress upon us the importance of imitating You in everything we do, say and think. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight oh Lord, my Rock and my Salvation. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!

Work Out Your Salvation

On By Ed AlgreenIn Answered Prayer, Appreciation, Needs, Praise, Recognize God, Salvation, WorshipLeave a comment

DATE POSTED Tuesday, 2022-11-29
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Philippians 2:12-13
TRANSLATION: Amplified Bible (AMP)

BIBLE TEXT: 12 So then, my dear ones, just as you have always obeyed [my instructions with enthusiasm], not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence, continue to work out your salvation [that is, cultivate it, bring it to full effect, actively pursue spiritual maturity] with awe-inspired fear and trembling [using serious caution and critical self-evaluation to avoid anything that might offend God or discredit the name of Christ]. 13 For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.

APPLICATION: A ‘Work-Out’ today, almost constitutes negative connotations to many, for it means going to the gym, or hitting the streets, or your exercise equipment for a complete ‘work-out’ 3 or 4 times per week. Normally we hate it because those muscles that we don’t use by sitting in front of the television, they will burn, and hurt for, sometimes, days after our workout! Yet Paul chose to use those words as he gave instructions to new Christians – that they should work-out their salvation. It is extremely important to note that Paul in no way indicated that we are to work for our salvation, for salvation comes only through the wonderful grace of Jesus, who came, died, and rose again, so that we might be saved. But imagine having a gift and never unwrapping it or using it? That would not serve the intended purpose of someone giving it to you, nor you receiving it, nor having it sit on a shelf like it did in the stores. It’s like Paul wanted the Philippian church, and Christians today, to rejoice in having the gift of salvation by showing it off to the world, especially those who so badly need salvation. ‘Showing it off’ is not intended to implicate pride or boasting, but instead meaning that if you are called on to pray for your sick mother in hospital, you must never indicate that you can’t, or you have no idea why you are being called on. Instead, exercise your faith – ask for God to give you boldness and courage to walk into that hospital room and call on Him to give comfort and healing to your mother, just like He did for Lazarus, or the sick girl whose dad came pleading with Jesus to heal his daughter. You would be ‘working-out’ or using the faith that God blessed you with to call on Him at a time where only He could heal or restore encouragement and faith to your mother.
It is so easy for us to use the excuse that we just don’t have the faith or boldness to stand up and proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord over our lives. So in verse 13 Paul goes on to enlighten us as to how this is done. Real simple, it’s not through our strength, but the wonderful work of Jesus in our lives that empowers us to exercise the faith given to us at the time that we accepted Him as Lord. Particularly try to latch on to the very last words in our Scripture – Jesus is looking for us to glorify Him and lift up our praises to Him. He therefore gives us what we need to reflect our salvation, allow Him to work through us, and attribute any and all miracles to Him alone. Through this process, we will recognize the power of God and give Him praise and thanksgiving. The folk who are touched by God through exercising our faith, will also see evidence of God at work and desire to know Him intimately. To God be the glory for all He achieves among His people.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Of my own strength, I can merely show up as a lump on a log, but with Christ working in and through me, He can accomplish much! May I always facilitate the work of Christ every day through all circumstances.

PRAYER: Lord, I plead with You to work-out Your perfect will in and through my life today. I also pray that as each reader and listener commits themselves to You completely today, You will also show Your power through them. This old world is so bombarded by Satan and his evil works through mankind, that they need a fresh perspective in seeing us bless them as we incorporate them while working out our salvation. It’s so hard to fathom the idea of You using us in Your miraculous work here below, Lord. But Your Word is clear that while You can do all things independent of us, yet You chose to work through Your saints to minister to our struggling world. There’s so much to be done Lord, please encourage every Christian to ‘work out their salvation’ while they have the wisdom and strength to allow You to accomplish Your work, especially through us, Your precious saints. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!